LyrArc Article Gist
Harris was asked a question about immigration at the Oprah Winfrey event, how she would secure the Border. Harris said- "So it’s a wonderful and important question. You know, my background was as a prosecutor and I was also the elected attorney general for two terms of a border state. So this is not a theoretical issue for me. This is something I’ve actually worked on. I have prosecuted transnational criminal organizations for the trafficking of guns, drugs and human beings. I take very seriously the importance of having a secure border and ensuring the safety of the American people. Sadly, where we are now can be traced most recently back to the fact that when the United States Congress, members of Congress, including some of the most conservative Republicans, came up with a border security bill. And here’s what that border security bill would have done. It would have put 1,500 more border agents at the border. Let me tell you, those border agents are working around the clock. It would have just been about giving them some support and relief, which is probably why the border agents actually endorsed the bill. It would have allowed us to stem the flow of fentanyl. And I’m looking at people from all over the country here. So I don’t need to tell the folks who are watching this what fentanyl has done to families, to kids in our country, and the need to take seriously stemming the flow coming into our country and addressing that extraordinary and tragic issue in terms of its effect. The bill would have allowed us to have more resources to prosecute transnational criminal organizations. And it would have been part of the solution. And Donald Trump called up those folks and said, don’t put that bill on the floor for a vote. He blocked the bill. And you know why? Because he preferred to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem. And he has put his personal political security before border security. Because understand, even in the intervening months, what that bill would have done to give support to folks who care about this issue. And this, again, gets to the point about what does leadership really look like? ...

LyrArc Article Gist
President Trump reiterated his threat to place tariffs on $300 billion of Chinese goods in addition to earlier tariffs on $250 billion in goods.  The problem China faces is that it China imports less, far less than the U.S. does. China has only $10 billion in U.S. goods to place tariffs on. This is after placing tariffs on $110 billion in U.S. goods, mostly agricultural products such as soyabeans in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on the $250 billion of Chinese goods. China could place a ban on imports from Boeing or restrict the access for U.S. companies to the Chinese market. U.S. companies have invested billions of dollars in the China and employ about 2 million Chinese in well paying jobs. Concerns about unemployment would be uppermost to prevent these jobs being affected. Other concern for China is the loss of foreign investment as relations deteriorate. Already supply chains in some products such as clothing and consumer products is shifting other countries in Asia. In automobiles the regional hubs are expected to shift with India as a potential hub for Asia, and Mexico preserving its place as a North American hub following renegotiation of NAFTA. In media the dispute is leading to a shift from Chinese consumers buying Adidas instead of Nike and Huawei smartphones instead of Apple.  For an already slowing economy this hurts China more than the U.S. which is why the U.S. is pushing China to settle with an agreement that the U.S. can trust to bring down China's trade surplus. For the U.S. as most of the loss in exports is in agricultural products the solution has been to provide government aid to farmers, and for Mr. Trump to use the issue to point out that he is fighting for U.S. interests and for fairness. This is why the trade dispute poses more problems for China. Because the surplus is so wildly skewed in China's favor after the inaction of many U.S. presidents just as it was for Japan in the eighties, the situation appears to be headed towards a definite reversal of the lopsided trade surplus enjoyed by China. In the process the U.S. plans to build up the competitive edge it has lost to some degree.  ...

LyrArc Article Gist
In his monthly television address called "Mann Ki Baat" prime minister Modi apologizes to Indians for the complete lockdown of the country. Modi said "for a a country the size of India we need strong measures. Nobody likes to take strong measures, but it is the only option, seeing other countries and learning that the disease must be dealt with at the beginning before it becomes incurable."  He cautioned that social distancing did not mean emotional or human distancing. Sympathy and cooperation are needed. He called frontline healthcare and sanitation workers "warriors" and "soldiers," and promised Rs 50 lakh (5 million) insurance for 20 lakh (2 million) such workers. He also commended the work of shopkeepers, drivers, bank workers and others to keep essential services running. Modi suggested now is time "to not go out, but to look within yourself. Try to know yourself." He gave examples of recovering doctors and workers, and of finding new hobbies. In coming time he said every Indian will try to break barriers for the country's development, once this crisis has passed. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Novavax gets $1.6 billion to deliver 100 million doses of vaccines for use in the U.S. possibly by end of 2020. Regneron gets $450 million federal contract for vaccine  development.

LyrArc Article Gist
Ford's seven passenger wagon attracts buyers with its boxy styling.

LyrArc Article Gist
A report from central Yokohama in The Times on Typhoon Hagibis. Yokohama was not hit badly, as the storm shifted its direction to the Tokyo region. This report shows how Japan prepared for a typhoon that was expected to be the worst in 60 years.

LyrArc Article Gist
US Treasury Secretary Yellen calls for Congress to authorize regulation of so called stable coins. TerraUSD founded by a South Korean developer has seen its price fall to 67 cents. Yellen said -"this is a rapidly growing product and there are risks to financial stability." At a Senate Banking Committee hearing Yellen said "we really need a consistent federal framework."

LyrArc Article Gist
Biden had his PSA test for prostate cancer about 11 years back in 2014, an astounding fact given that he ran for the presidency in 2019. The nation did not know that all this time this cancer was developing and would affect the manner in which the nation's affairs would be conducted. Putting an unelected Vice President into the White House also has its own serious drawbacks. 

LyrArc Article Gist
The second lockdown in France that begins October 29 for 4 weeks is very different from the first. It incorporates many of the lessons learned during the first lockdown.  The construction industry will remain open after this made a large dent in the French economy during the first lockdown. Schools K-12 will now remain open, with children required to wear masks at age six, and stricter rules for masks and visiting parents. The universities will remain open with classes online, but physically closed. Buses metro and other transport will remain open. Churches will remain open but be limited to very small gatherings. Parks forests, gardens and beaches will remain open this time but one has to live within 1 kilometre to access them and limited to 1 hour. People are prohibited from travelling outside the region in which they are registered. People can exercize for 1 hour within 1 kilometre of their home. All are required to carry a signed form for any type of activity, including shopping, work, accessing essential services, or for their one hour exercize. Not having the signed form would lead to a fine of 135 euros. Because bars, restaurants will be closed people in these hard hit industries will get 100% of their pay from the government. In other industries companies will contribute 15% and the government 85% so that these people are covered. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
With about $13 billion of debt taken up by Twitter in the deal with Musk there is increasing concern about servicing this debt, and the interest costs of about $1 billion a year far exceeding the $150 million previously borne. Musk says Twitter cannot rely on advertisers and he expects verified users to pay a $8 monthly fee for use of Twitter. "Its the only way to defeat the bots and trolls," says Musk of the subscription fees needed to pay the bills.

LyrArc Article Gist
Governor Yuko Koike has set 2050 as the date for Tokyo to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has put out the plan in "Tokyo Zero Emissions Strategy." All vehicles will be using electricity or fuel cells. And all buildings will use solar and other forms of renewable energy. The govenor called on all Tokyo residents to fight climate change. Also planned is an effort to reduce use of plastic and other materials that consume large amounts of energy.

LyrArc Article Gist
Gerald Seib of the WSJ describes the huge wave of young supporters who helped Labor party leader Corbyn in Britain's 2017 general election. He cites an analysis by the Financial Times that shows young people backed Labor over the Conservatives by 51 points more than the national average. People over age 65 backed Conservatives by 32 points more than the national average. This points to a staggering age gap of 83 points, said the Financial Times. Young people failed to turn out in large numbers during the Brexit vote, and this was a large factor in the pro Brexit win. One exit poll shows turnout went up by 12% in 2017 compared to the 2015 parliamentary election. Only 26% of voters in a WSJ/NBC poll for ages 18-34 years say they approve of U.S. president Trump's performance, 64% disapprove. Seib says the movement of Corbyn is similar to the Bernie Sanders movement in the U.S. and has implications for a similar surge of support showing up in the U.S.

LyrArc Article Gist
Starting in April 2024 $20 per hour will be minimum wage in California, helping workers in the restaurant industry with the cost of living.